About Us

The Global Challenges Research Team on Conservation Development is an interdisciplinary working group of scholars and practitioners seeking to advance the science and practice of conservation development. Housed within the School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University, and in partnership with the Livelihoods Program of the Wildlife Conservation Society, our group is comprised of leading experts in the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of conservation development from several universities, resource management agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Definition

We define conservation developmentas an approach to the design, construction, and stewardship of a development that achieves functional protection for natural resources while also providing social and economic benefits to human communities.

Vision

Our broad vision for the Global Challenges Research Team on Conservation Development is to synthesize data on existing CD practice, establish a rigorous scientific basis for evaluating CD designs and policies, and engage with land use planning, development and conservation practitioners to inform the design of future projects in the United States and around the world. To implement our vision, we are engaged in several research and outreach activities.